Psalms 109:21

Psalms 109:21 says, But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name’s sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me.  David asked God to do good to him and deliver him for God's name's sake because God's mercy was good.  As followers of Christ, we are not delivered because of our own goodness, but because of the mercy of God.  It is His name that we should praise.  Verse twenty-two adds, For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.  David may have been rich, at least at times, but he was poor and needy spiritually, as are we without Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-three continues, I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.  David, the great warrior king, said he felt that he was but a declining shadow, weaker than a locust.  He felt his end was near, and he was troubled in his spirit and mind.  If we feel that the end of our life is near as Christians, we need not be troubled in spirit or mind.  Verse twenty-four states, My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness.  David just continues to speak of his physical decline.  Verse twenty-five adds, I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shaked their heads.  David said that instead of fearing him, he had become a reproach to people.  As we grow older, we may become ignored or looked down on by people, but if we have put our faith in God, He is still with us to give us strength.  Verse twenty-six declares, Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy:  No matter how old or young, rich or poor, this can only be our request to God.  He saves us according to His mercy.  Verse twenty-seven adds, That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, LORD, hast done it.  When God saves us, or even blesses us after salvation, we need to make sure that the people around us know that it is by the hand of God that we are saved and blessed.  Verse twenty-eight continues, Let them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.  David said let the world curse him, but that he would continue to rejoice in God.  We may be cursed by the world, but as Christians we need to continue to praise God no matter what.  Verse twenty-nine says, Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.  If we are followers of Christ, one day this will be the fate of those who hate us because of our faith in Him.  Verse thirty adds, I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.  Like David, we need to greatly praise the LORD, no matter what is happening in our life.  Verse thirty-one continues, For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.  David said that God would stand at the right hand of the poor to save them from those who condemn them.  Once more, being poor does not bring one salvation, but God will save all who put their faith in Jesus Christ, who are spiritually poor until they do.

Psalms 109:12

Psalms 109:12 says, Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.  David is still talking about the wicked, and says that none should show mercy to him or his children.  This is not to be our attitude as followers of Christ today though.  Verse thirteen adds, Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out.  David asked that the prosperity of the wicked be cutoff and their name forgotten in the coming generations.  We would do well to forget the names of the wicked in one respect, but it is good to remember them and the evil they did in another, so that we might learn how to avoid others like them.  Verse fourteen states, Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.  God is going to remember the iniquity of everyone, unless we come to Him through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.  We have all at one time been guilty of sin, so we need to pray for the salvation of others.  Verse fifteen adds, Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.  David calls for the wicked to be continually before the LORD in judgment so that He may cut their memory off from the earth.  God is one day going to cut off the memory of the wicked, when He comes in judgment.  Until then, we are called on to share with them the gospel of Christ.  Verse sixteen continues, Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.  David asked that God cut off the wicked because they did not show mercy but instead persecuted the poor and needy.  As Christians, we are called on by God to show mercy on the poor and needy, but we too often look down on them I believe.  Verse seventeen declares, As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.  Cursing here does not refer to using profanity, but on pronouncing curses on the poor and needy.  The wicked delighted in pronouncing curses on people instead of blessings.  We as Christians are called on to pray for and help those in need, especially the children.  Verse eighteen adds, As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.  David said that since the wicked clothed themselves in cursing, or wishing for the worst for others, that God should pronounce His curse upon them.  Verse nineteen continues, Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.  David said that just as the wicked had draped themselves in curses against others that God should drape them in their own curses.  We need to be careful that we as followers of Christ do begin to wish those who are evil to be destroyed more than we pray for them to be saved.  Verse twenty concludes, Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul.  David asked that all this be what happened to the wicked and to those who spoke evil against him.  Once more, we are called on to pray for the salvation of the wicked, even if they speak evil against our soul.

Psalms 108:1

Psalms 108:1 says, A Song or Psalm of David.  After being identified as a psalm of David, verse one says, O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.  David said his heart was fixed on God and he would sing praises to Him, even with his own glory.  Men may have glorified David, but David gave all the glory to God. We must likewise fix our heart on God as followers of Christ and give Him the glory in everything.  Verse two adds, Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.  David said he would wake early to praise God.  Whatever time we do awake, we should awake praising God.  Verse three continues, I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.  David said he would praise God, singing praises to Him not only to the people of Israel but to all nations.  We cannot sing praises to God only when we are with others Christians, but must sing praises to Him to all people.  Verse four states states, For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.  David said he would sing praises to God because of His great mercy and truth.  We sing praises to God not because of who we are, but because of Who He is.  Verse five adds, Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth;  As David said,  God is to be exalted above the heavens and the earth, because He created them all.  Verse six continues, That thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand, and answer me.  David may have been referring to himself as God's beloved, but we know that Jesus Christ was the beloved Son of God, and that because of His sacrifice on the cross, if we accept Him by faith, we too can become one of the beloved of God.  Verse seven declares, God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.  David said that God had spoken and he would follow His guidance in ruling Israel.  We need rulers today who follow God's guidance in all that they do, and we certainly need to do so as individual Christians.  Verse eight adds, Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;  Verse nine continues, Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph.  David said that all of the people of Isreal were his to rule, and he would do so under the guidance of God.  Verse ten asks, Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?  David asked Who would give him victory.  If we as Christians today find ourselves in a challenging situation, we need to ask ourselves Who we will look to for victory.  Verse eleven adds, Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts?  David asked if God would not give him success and we know that if we put our faith in God today that He will give us spiritual success over all our enemies.  Verse twelve states, Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.  We like David must call on God for His help, because as David stated the help of people is vain.  We as followers of Christ should never look to anyone or anything else to deliver us from times of trouble, because He alone can give us an everlasting victory.  Verse thirteen adds, Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.  David said God alone could tread down his enemies, and this is still true today.  People may have looked to David as a powerful leader, but David gave all the praise and glory to God, and so should we in everything we do.

Psalms 109:1

Psalms 109:1 says, To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. This is identified as a psalm of Davd, then verse one says,  Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;  David was not asking God to keep His peace, but to no longer hold on to it toward his enemies.  Verse two adds, For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.  David said he asked this of God because of how the wicked were treating him.  We may at times have an attitude of wanting God to destroy those who are wicked and especially if they seem to be determined to harm us, but I don't believe this is the attitude God expects from us today. Verse three continues, They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.  David said his enemies hated him without cause, and if people hate us today as followers of Christ, we need to do our best to make sure that it is without cause.  Verse four states, For  my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.  David said that even when he showed his love for them, they hated him, but he still continued to pray.  This is how Jesus was treated on His way to the cross, and He continued to pray for the forgiveness of those who were beating and who crucified Him.  As Christians, we are to follow His example.  Verse five adds, And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.  Verse six continues, Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.  David asked God to set a wicked man ruled by Satan over his enemies.  Though there may be may people today who are ruled by someone who is under the power of Satan, we should not pray that this happens.  Verse seven declares, When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.  David asked that God condemn the wicked when they were judged, because among other things their prayers had become hypocritical.  We have to remember that if it were not for our faith in Jesus Christ we would be condemned as well, and we certainly need to keep our prayers from becoming hypocritical.  Verse eight adds, Let his days be few; and let another take his office.  David asked that the wicked rulers days be few, and that another take his place.  Verse nine continues, Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.  David asked not only that they be removed from office, but that they die.  We as Christians should not pray for the death of anyone, even those that hate us, but for their salvation.  Verse ten states, Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places.  We certainly should not pray that the children of those who are wicked suffer throughout life.  Verse eleven adds, Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour. Again, David asks for the loss of all that the wicked have.  It is not the material things that we should be concerned with, but the spiritual, and we should never want anyone to lose everything spiritually, no matter how wicked they may be.  Rather, we should pray for their salvation. 

Psalms 107;31

Psalms 107;31 says, Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!  This is once more a call for people to praise God for His goodness and wonderful works.  We should praise God for Who He is, the Creator and Sustainer of everything, and not for what He can do for us materially.  Verse thirty-two adds, Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.  The people of Israel were called on to praise God when they assembled together, and so should we as followers of Christ.  Verse thirty-three states, He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;  God can dry up the rivers and springs if He chooses to do so.  Verse thirty-four adds, A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.  God can slowly make a fruitful land barren, if the people there become to wicked.  We should keep that in mind today.  Verse thirty-five states, He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.  Just as God can turn the water into a wilderness and watersprings to dry ground, He can do the opposite.  Just because we are blessed today and others aren't doesn't mean that it will always be that way.  It ultimately depends on our relationship with God, individually and as a nation.  Verse thirty-six adds, And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;  God can bring the hungry to dwell in a city fit for habitation.  We as Christians are brought into God's kingdom, which is a place that is spiritually fit for habitation.  Verse thirty-seven continues, And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.  Though God brings the hungry into this land, they are still expected to work.  We should never expect to just sit back and have God bless us as followers of Christ.  We have a purpose and work to do that is about more than just material things.  Verse thirty-eight declares, He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease. The psalmist said that God blessed those that put their faith in Him with more than enough to just survive, but once more I don't believe that we should expect God to make us rich materially.  Even if we are faithful, we may still struggle financially.  Verse thirty-nine adds, Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.  I believe this is what happens when those who are supposed to be God's people turn away from Him.  Verse forty continues, He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.  God pours His contempt on those rulers of His people who have turned away from Him, and allows them to be defeated.  Verse forty-one states, Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.  As I have stated before, I don't believe that being poor itself brings a person blessings from God nor salvation itself, but if a person has accepted Jesus Christ as his or her Savior and Lord and are made poor because of their faith, then God will one day richly bless them.  Verse forty-two adds,The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.  When the righteous see what God is doing, they will rejoice.  This is not the self righteous, but those who are made righteous the only way a person can be made righteous, and that is through faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse forty-three continues, Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.  If we are wise, we will understand these things as they are revealed to us by God.

Psalms 107:21

Psalms 107:21 says, Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!  We should wonder as David did then why people today, especially those who believe in Jesus Christ, do not praise God for His goodness instead of often complaining about problems in life.  Verse twenty-two adds, And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.  A sacrifice is something given to God, and David said people should offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving to God and declare His works by rejoicing.  We should be sacrificing, or offer up to God, a sacrifice to thanksgiving as we declare His works to the world.  Verse twenty-three states, They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;  Verse twenty-four adds, These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.  Sailors see the works of God as the go about their everyday life.  The vastness of the sea shows them the need for divine protection, even if they die not openingly professing a belief in the one true God.  Verse twenty-five continues, For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.  While out on the sea conducting their business of transporting goods, storms can quickly rise up and leave the ships and sailors at their mercy, and that is a good time to acknowledge the power of God.  Verse twenty-six says, They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.  The waves come from the depths and lift the ships up to heaven at God's command.  When this happens, the soul of the sailor melts within.  There is a real fear, and there needs to be a real faith God to overcome that fear.  Verse twenty-seven adds, They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.  While being tossed about by the sea, sailors are at their wits end as to what to do.  We may often be at our wits end when tossed about by life.  Verse twenty-eight continues, Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. If we are tossed about by storms on the sea of life and are at our wits end as to what to do, we need to call out to God.  He will always be there with us in our time of trouble and answer our prayers if we call out to Him in faith.  Verse twenty-nine declares, He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.  Just as God can calm the seas for the sailors when they call out to Him, He can calm the storms in our life today if we call out to Him.  Verse thirty adds, Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.  The sailors are glad when God calms the seas and brings them into their desired haven.  We should be glad always, even in the midst of the storms of life as followers of Christ, because God has already brought us spiritually into our safe haven.

Psalms 107:10

Psalms 107:10 says, Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;  We can either live in the light of God's word with freedom from sin and death, or we will be bound in the darkness.  Verse eleven adds, Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:  The people who were imprisoned by the darkness were those who had rebelled against God.  Anytime people rebel against God, then they live in spiritual darkness.  Verse twelve states, Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.  Instead of living with the blessings of God, the people of Isreal were brought down to labor with no one to help them. When we turn away from God, we lose His protection and blessings spiritually, no matter what is happening in our life.  We should always obey God as followers of Christ, and then we will always have His protection and His blessings.  Verse thirteen adds, Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.  This was a cycle with the people of Isreal.  God would deliver them, they would obey Him for awhile and be a blessed and powerful nation, then they would turn away from Him, be defeated and downtrodden, then call out to Him again and He would deliver them once more.  As Christians, God has delivered us once and for all time, so we need to avoid times when we are not faithful to Him.  Verse fourteen continues, He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.  God had delivered them from the darkness of sin and the shadow of death, just as He has us today as followers of Christ.  Verse fifteen declares, Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!  This is what we as Christians should do every day.  We are to tell the world of the goodness of God as we praise His holy name.  Verse sixteen adds, For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.  Just as God had removed the physical restraints from the people of Israel then, He has removed the spiritual restraints from us today as followers of Christ.  Verse seventeen says, Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.  Fools, those who do not believe in God, are afflicted spiritually because of their sin.  Verse eighteen adds, Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.  I believe that the meat referred to is the meat of God's word, which the lost of the world abhor, and this leads them to a spiritual death if they do not change and accept the salvation made available by Christ.  Verse nineteen continues, Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.  If people quit being foolish and honestly cry out to God in their distress, He has already made  salvation available.  All anyone has to do to be saved is to put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty concludes, He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.  God's word, though it wouldn't happen until later, was Jesus Christ coming to die for the sins of everyone. All we have to do is put our faith in Him as our personal Savior and Lord.